Turkey-Cyprus-energy-oil-politics-diplomacy

Turkey-Cyprus-energy-oil-politics-diplomacy
Erdogan warns foreign companies over gas drilling near Cyprus
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Ankara, Feb 13, 2018 (AFP) - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday
warned foreign energy companies not to "overstep the mark" in the
Mediterranean, after Turkey's warships blocked an Italian drilling vessel
seeking to begin exploration for gas off Cyprus.
The growing standoff between Turkey and Cyprus over exploiting energy
resources in the eastern Mediterranean risks further complicating stalled
efforts to reunify the island following the collapse of peace talks last year.
"Don't think that we have ignored the opportunistic attempts to search for
natural gas in Cyprus waters and Aegean coast," Erdogan said in a televised
speech to his party in parliament.
"We warn those overstepping the mark with miscalculations in Cyprus and the
Aegean," Erdogan added.
Italy's energy giant ENI said its ship had been ordered to stop by Turkish
ships last week over "military activities in the destination area" as it was
on course to start exploring in block 3 of Cyprus's exclusive economic zone.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied
the northern third of the island in response to a Greek military
junta-sponsored coup.
While Greek-majority Republic of Cyprus is internationally recognised, the
breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is recognised only by Ankara.
Ankara and Cyprus have long argued over the eastern Mediterranean, and
Turkey has been stringent in defending the claims of Turkish Cypriots for a
share.
Cyprus said on Thursday that exploratory drilling by Italy's ENI and
France's Total had found gas reserves elsewhere off the island.
But Erdogan warned foreign companies working with the Cyprus government
that "they should not be exploited as tools for a work that exceeds their
limits and strengths".
He even compared Turkey's response over the issue to its military
operations in northern Syria, which Turkey portrays as a fight against terror
groups.
"Like on our southern border with our 'Euphrates Shield', 'Olive Branch'
operations, we are ruining those who make mistaken calculations and their
scenarios."
The European Union, where Cyprus is a member, has made clear it is keeping
a close eye on Turkey's behaviour.
EU President Donald Tusk on Monday spoke with Cypriot President Nicos
Anastasiades, urging Turkey on Twitter to "avoid threats or actions against
any EU member".
He added Turkey should "instead commit to good neighbourly relations,
peaceful dispute settlement and respect for territorial sovereignty."
raz/sjw/spm
ENITOTAL